Outreach

Weekly program, every Monday (which is partly funded by Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver) , that includes ESL classes; exercise programs; monthly wellness program; Intergenerational programs; nutritious kosher hot lunch; meals on wheels; social education activities; outings; resources such as a monthly Richmond Public Library mobile service, monthly visits from Jewish Family Service agency social workers, visitors from Coastal Health, Better at Homes and more.

Every other Thursday we partner with Chabad to facilitate a social meal program with entertainment and discussion. This program at present is having difficulty with attendance as we cannot offer a bus service for the attendees right now

Seniors bus service for programs:

Kehila facilitates a no fee bus service for Richmond Jewish seniors attending Kehila facilitated/partnered programs at no cost to the senior. Kehila had sourced corporate funding (this has now ended), private donors and JFGV to be able to facilitate this service thus allowing us to address isolation and transportation issues for our seniors.

We continue to look for substantial Corporate/Donor/Grant funding to maintain our senior bus program at full capacity as this is so vital to keeping our seniors engaged and active and break the cycle of isolation in so many cases.

The benefits of this program are many: Opportunity to socialize with friends and place to meet new people; Reduce social isolation; Promote healthy lifestyle through regular low impact exercises, and maintaining flexibility and movements of joints; Healthy, nutritious meals for those who are not well nourished because of living alone and not cooking for themselves; Brain stimulation with dynamic speakers on a range of interesting topics; Creates a sense of belonging; lncrease their self-worth and self-esteem; Feel connected to Jewish heritage, religion and culture; Allow the broader community to learn about the Jewish religion and culture.

Quarterly Seniors Highlight newsletter;

This is a newsletter created and printed by Kehila that spotlights seniors programs in Richmond Jewish Community and community at large as well as spotlights local seniors themselves. This is printed and distributed to the seniors

Meal Subsistence Programing:

We facilitate and support a variety of programmes to assist those in need of nutritional meals and assistance.

Meals on Wheels for our seniors (by donation only). This service is also offered to shut ins and hospital patients if and when required and when we are able. This program is partly funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver. This program is limited by funds

Light of Shabbat (weekly Shabbat meal program at no cost to recipient - in partnership with Chabad Richmond).

The Len Babins Nutritional program supports Richmond Jewish Day School families in need to participate in the hot lunch program at the school at no fee to those in need. Kehila also supports a breakfast group of this same user group so no child starts their day hungry. Currently we are supporting 12 families with this program. Additionally, if there is a family in need of food assistance in the Richmond Jewish Community we are able to assist them through this program if we have the funds.

Roses Angels annual program, in memorial to Rose Lewin and Babs Cohen, is now in our 8th year. The goal is to provide hygiene care packages, non-perishable food items and warmth bundles to 1,200 Richmond individuals in programs such as: Touchstone Family Association, Turning Point, CHIMO, Salvation Army Men’s Shelter and Cold Weather shelter, Richmond High School Colts program, Tikvah Housing Storeys residents, Richmond Food Aid Program, Jewish Food Bank, Richmond Family Place, Richmond Food Bank, Kehila Meals on Wheels, Community Meals and various outreach programs.

This is a strictly donation only driven program that packages such items as

Packaged dried fruit or nuts (i.e. raisins, trail mix)
Canned foods (i.e. soup, tuna)
Boxed foods (i.e. mac & cheese/rice/pasta)
Clothing vouchers
Individually packaged baked goods (i.e. granola bars, energy bars, cookies, oatmeal, pudding, jello)
Peanut Butter
Juice Boxes/Hot Chocolate/Tea
Toiletry items such as: toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, floss, soap, mini shampoo/conditioner, facial tissues, diapers
Feminine Hygiene Products
Beauty Care Products (hair accessories, lotion, makeup)
.Gloves or Mittens
.Thermal socks

Beth Tikvah Meal Outreach when needed and able. Additional funding is being searched for to address the growing needs of all our seniors programs as we sadly do not have the required funds to address the growth. We are assisting those in greatest need with low to little income and means to meet their needs. This group is growing and needing more as the population of this demographic increases in Richmond.

Richmond Multi Faith Food Aid Delivery program is a faith based group of organizations working to feed the homeless, isolated, low income and frail in our general population. The City of Richmond does little to aid this demographic and it has fallen on this group to feed and often more. There are community meals mostly 4 – 5 days a week as well as each day of the week there is approximately 50 meals delivered to our communities homeless. Kehila assists with deliveries, cooking and when viable food vouchers and items of warm clothing. Kehila has also facilitated a partnership with the Richmond SPCA and Tysol Pets to assist with this groups animal population and their need for healthy food.

Richmond Community Seder in partnership with Chabad Richmond. This program has been facilitated and partnered by Kehila for approximately 15 years. This is a by donation program for those wishing to participate in a Seder. For those who cannot attend, it is possible to have a Seder meal delivered to their home.

Educational Programs:

In partnership with Richmond Jewish Day School we facilitate, market and assist with funding for the school and community at large to provide social educational speakers on relevant topics. This programming is in jeopardy due to lack of funding.

Kesher ENewsletter

Weekly electronic newsletter that advertises programing in “Jewish Richmond” as well as the community at large. Distribution of approximately 800.

Kehila Board:

Private individuals with representation for the Executive Committee and representatives from Richmond Jewish Day School, Beth Tikvah Synagogue, The Bayit Synagogue and Chabad Richmond.

Representation on the following committees:

Richmond Coalition on Poverty

Jewish Seniors Alliance

Homeless Connect

Richmond Multi Faith Food Aid Delivery Committee

Richmond Transportation Task Force

Better at Homes

Richmond Community Services Advisory Committee

Partner Agencies

Tikvah Housing Group

Jewish Family Services

Richmond Food Bank

Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver

Richmond Public Library

Minoru Seniors Center

Richmond Family Place

City of Richmond

Outreach

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